SAN DIEGO — It's a viral sensation that won’t go away. A TikTok trend of videos shows people how to steal some Hyundai and Kia models in less than a minute.
So many vehicles have been stolen now that Kia is now sending letters to all drivers of certain models between 2011-222, notifying them that the company will install ignition cylinder protectors for free because thieves are basically hot-wiring cars with an iPhone charger.
The TikTok trend of videos that show how to do it started during the pandemic. But a San Marcos man reached out to CBS 8 after it happened to him.
Matthew Zaborsky walked up to his 2017 Kia Soul Friday morning, and saw glass everywhere from his shattered back window.
“I'm just trying to decide what I'm going to do. How am I going to afford to fix it and pay $1,000 deductible? They broke off the handle of the passenger door, aggressively trying to get in. That didn’t work so they busted the window. Then I notice up under the steering wheel, the damage up there. So then I knew it wasn't just a break-in to maybe get something out, it was an attempt at theft," Zaborsky said.
Zaborsky was shocked when a friend told him about the TikTok trend called “The Kia Challenge”. He says when he called law enforcement and told them he had a Kia Soul, they told him they knew exactly what happened.
“I would never imagine there would be something so disgusting or pointless. I can't believe those videos are going around. Just that something so stupid on social media teaching young people how to break into the car like there's no consequences. It's a strange feeling to describe you always think it's not going to happen to you and when it does it basically destroys you kind of emotionally," he said.
Back in 2021, TikTok videos started showing people how they can steal some Hyundai and Kia vehicles in seconds with just a screwdriver and charging chord.
Nine million Hyundai and Kias from model years 2011-2022 do not have engine immobilizers. That means they don’t require a key or key fob to start the engine. Thieves remove the steering column cover, like they did Zaborsky’s, and use a phone charger to start the engine.
“It didn’t work and they probably got afraid and just took off," Zaborsky said.
He showed us the damage to his steering column, which looks downright dangerous to even drive. He says he’s not even sure how he’s able to start his car or if it’s safe. But he needs to drive his car to work and he doesn’t have the money right now to fix it.
After it happened, Zaborsky remembered he got a letter from Kia at Christmas. It tells him the company will install an ignition protector for free.
But even if he had it installed, thieves watching TikTok videos might not know it was there and would simply see his Kia and break in and try to steal it. It’s all a major setback for Zaborsky.
“I love San Diego. I love the people here. But I have to work two or three jobs to make it here and then this happens," he said.
Hyundai and Kia drivers affected can request reimbursement for theft-related loss here.
WATCH RELATED: City lawsuit against Kia, Hyundai continues as car thefts spike